Front Page News

Need for Lightwerweight Military Equipment. A posting on the Marine Corps Times website reviews the need to provide the military with stronger and lighter protective
gear. While the article, authored by Jim Cooper, a veteran Marine and currently an advisor to the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, is about equipment made of
petrochemicals, it does have interesting broader information. We tend to think of protective equipment in terms of preventing combat injuries; however, it can also be a contributor to non-combat
injuries. The average load weight for a US warfighter was 117 pounds (Marine) and 119 pounds (soldier). The weight reduces the mobility of the warfighter and is the leading cause of injuries. Between
2004 and 2007, one-third of medical evacuations on the battlefield were due to spinal, connective tissue or musculoskeletal injuries, twice the injuries as were sustained from combat. Click here to read the article. Posted November 19,
2018

New Date for SPESA Manufacturing Technologies Conference. The Sewn Products Equipment Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA) has moved the date of the SPESA's 9th Advancement in
Manufacturing Technologies Conference to February 27, 2019, in Raleigh, N.C., USA, in order to take advantage of the industry also gathering for the Techtextil North America event taking place
February 26-28 in Raleigh. The event had been previously scheduled for NOvember 27, 2018. The theme of this year's event is "Manufacturing in an On-Demand World." Click here to visit the event's website for the full agenda and speakers. Posted
November 15, 2018

Program Announced for Textile Coating and Laminating Conference. The organizer of TCL2019, Internaitonal Conference on Textile Coating and Laminating taking place March 14-15,
2018 in Berlin, Germany, has announced two keynote speakers -- David McGowan, Counsel, Dentons UK & Middle East LLP (UK), and Elgar Straub, Managing
Director, VSDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies. (Germany). Mr. McGowan will speak on on the first day about the status and potential impact of Brexit. Mr. Straub will start the second
day speaking on the impacts of changes in attudes to global trade and tariffs on the textile machinery industry. Altogether, the event will feature 19 presentations. Click here to go to the organizer's website to learn more. Posted November 15, 2018

Nigerian Army Procures 10,000 Ballistic Vests and Helmets. According to an article posted on the Body Armor News website, the Nigeria Army is procuring
10,000 ballistic vests and helmets from Nigeria Machine Tool, a domestic defense contractor located in Osogbo, Nigeria. The army had previously purchased 2,000 ballistic vests from the company in
2016. Click here to read the article. Posted November
14, 2018

IFAI Military Division Elects New Leaders. During the IFAI Expo 2018 in Dallas, Texas, last month, the Military Division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI)
elected new volunteer leadership. Stepping down from the role of chair was Nick Rivera of MMI Textiles. Jennifer Fennell of Polo Custom Products was
selected as the new chair and Jeff Papalia of National Industries for the Blind became the division's vice chair. Two new board members were also announced for 3-year terms:
Geoff Senko of MMI Textiles and Peter Raneri of HLC Industries. Click here to read the press release issued by IFAI. Posted November
13, 2018

SYFA Fall Conference Speakers Announced. The Synthetic Yarn & Fabric Association (SYFA) has announced the line-up of speakers for its annual Fall Conference. The event is
taking place in Charlotte, N.C., USA, November 29-30, 2018. Taking its cue from the resurgent US industry, the conference theme is “The Strong Economy and Advances in Technology.” Roger
Tutterow, Professor of Economics, Kennesaw State University will start off the event with a presentation on the economic, political and business climate.” Sara Beatty,
Senior Vice President of the National Council of Textile Organizations, is also on the schedule to deliver an update of the trade negotiations, including the impact of the new United
States-Mexico-Canada agreement replacing NAFTA and the impact of the ongoing China/US trade war. Click here to register or get more information. Posted November 13, 2018

Techtextil and Texprocess 2019 Exhibition Floors Almost Full, Ahead of Past Event Pace. Messe Frankfurt, the owner and manager of the Techtextil and Texprocess Frankfurt
shows are reporting that with still 6 months, the co-located Frankfurt, Germany events are finding the exhibition halls almost filled. To date, around 1,000 companies from 54 countries have reserved
space for Techtextil 2019 and another 250 companies from 31 countries have registered to exhibit for Texprocess. The shows are taking place May 14-17, 2019. Posted November 13, 2018

China Import Tariff Cuts Take Effect on Textiles to Blunt Impact of US Tariffs on Domestic
Manufacturers. On November 1, 2018, China cut the import tariffs on 1,585 products deemed
essential for the domestic manufacturing industry. Some of these items are imported textile materials. The tariffs on textiles is being reduced from 11.5% to 8.4% to lower costs for domestic
manufacturers as the country seeks a diversification of outside suppliers. It's not clear yet whether the cut also affects the designated tariffs on textiles China has already increased on US
products. It's possible the US imported materials will also see the lower tariff but then still be subject to the higher specific targeted retaliatory tariff implemented a few months ago.
Click here to read more. Posted November 13, 2018

Wearable Technology Enters Professional Sports. Thanks to our friend Bud Weisbart at AR Tech for sharing an interesting article found on the
Press-Enterprise (Riverside, Calif., USA) newspaper site on how wearable technology is being introduced to professional sports. Elbow stress is the leading cause of injuries for
baseball players. The article focuses on Motus, a company which has developed a compression sleeve with sensors. In baseball, where tens of millions of dollars are spent for an elite pitcher,
the team can now first look at the athlete's arm strength, elbow stress and shoulder rotation to spot any potential issues. Privacy laws requires consent by the player for data provided by
sleeve. It's not always, though, about looking for a negative; sensors might notice a correctable problem that could extend a career. So far, at the Major League level, the Motus sleeve has only been
worn in practice but baseball is one of the few sports that does allow wearable technology like this to be worn in games. Click here to read the article. Posted November 12, 2018

Ralph Moody, PE, with Dave Rousse, President, INDA

INDA Gives Lifetime Technical Achievement Award. INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has recognized Ralph Moody, PE, Senior Director of
R&D, Berry Global, Inc., with its prestigious 2018 Lifetime Technical Achievement Award. The award was given November 6, 2018 during the association's annual Hygienix Conference, in Orlando,
Fla., USA. Mr. Moody was recognized for his critical expertise in process development and R&D in several commercially successful substrates and their production processes. Click here to read the INDA press release to gain a more complete
understanding of Mr. Moody's achievement. Posted November 7, 2018

IFAI Expo Registrations Down Slightly at Latest Show. According to a press release issued today, the IFAI Expo 2018 held in Dallas, Texas, USA last month had more than 4,350
verified registered participants. (It is unclear if the number included registered no-shows.) In addition, there were 500 scanned leads that came from the CAMX participants on the co-located
exhibition floor. The IFAI Expo 2018 result is a slight decrease from the 4,500 participants in the 2017 event in New Orleans. The IFAI Expo 2016 in Charlotte, N.C., attracted 5,023 participants.
Click here to read the full release published on the Textile
World website. Posted November 6, 2018

Point Blank Enterprises Prevails in Class Action Law Suit Targeting (SSBS). According to a press release issued by Point Blank Enterprises, Inc., the US Federal Court, in the southern district of Florida
denied a motion for class certification filed against the company and dismissed the case. In the case (OSTA, et al. v. Point Blank Enterprises, Inc.), a few individual Ohio police
officers and two law enforcement associations alleged that a nationwide class should be certified to pursue claims that Point Blank’s Self-Suspending Ballistic System (SSBS) for shoulder straps used
on bulletproof vests were defective. The plaintiffs’ lawyers alleged a defect in the “hook and loop” closure portion of the SSBS when a wearer used the SSBS in a certain way, allegedly causing
the shoulder straps to wear out prematurely. The denial of the class motion, and the associated dismissal of the claims asserted by the plaintiffs, enables Point Blank, headquartered in Pompano
Beach, Fla., USA, to continue to design, manufacture, and sell its body armor utilizing the SSBS. Click here to read the company press release. Posted November 5, 2018

Kevin Frisone

Structure Materials Manufacturer Names Marketing Development Manager for Architecture Market Segment.Flexible composite membranes
manufacturer Serge Ferrari has announced that Kevin Frisone has been appointed as Market Development Manager -- Architecture. Mr. Frisone will lead the company’s growth in the United
States for the building / architectural segment, including solar protection, façade, acoustics and tensile architecture. He brings 30 years of business development
experience to Serge Ferrari, previously working for Saint-Gobain in its SageGlass and Vetrotech business units. Serge Ferrari Group is headquartered in France with Serge Ferrai North America based in
Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA. Posted November 5, 2018

Textile Machinery Show Sees 10% Domestic Visitor Increase. The organizers of ITMA Asia + CITME 2018 issued a final report on the results of the event held October 15-17,
2018 in Shanghai. The 6th combined exhibition had over 100,000 visitors from 116 countries and regions, with a 10% increase from the China domestic industry. About 20% of the visitors came from
outside of China. It was not clear in the report if the number of visitors from outside of China also increased; however, the number of countries in 2018 was14 more than the 2016 event. India had the
largest country representation outside of China, with Japan, China Taiwan, South Korea and Bangladesh, following in order. The next edition of the show will be held in October 2020 in Shanghai.
Posted November 5, 2018

North Carolina State University Receives $28 Million Gift. Great news for the North Carolina State University, located in Raleigh, N.C., USA. Frederick "Fred"
Eugene Wilson, Jr. and his family are giving the NC State's College of Textiles a gift of $28 million. The college within the university system will be renamed Wilson College of Textiles.
Fred Wilson graduated from the College of Textiles in 1961 with a degree in textile chemistry. He is chairman of the board of directors of Piedmont Chemical Industries Inc., a family-own and operated
chemical manufacturer headquartered in High Point, N.C. Click here to read the university's press
release on the gift. Posted November 4, 2018

US Exports in September Released for Specialty and Industrial Fabrics Group. The US Department of Commerce has released the September export
figures for the Specialty and Industrial Fabrics group. Click here to see the entire report released by the Department of Commerce.

Year Ending

9/2017

Year Ending

9/2018

% Change

Mexico

2,062,079

2,183,055

+5.87

Canada

580,196

592,276

+2.08

China

198,961

222,523

+11.84

Hong Kong

124,860

120,784

-3.26

United Kingdom

100,546

103,004

+2.44

World

4,162,674

4,364,493

+4.85

(Data in thousand dollars)

Posted November 2, 2018

US Textile Company Closing. Copland Industries, a manufacturer of various griege woven fabrics for markets including health and industrial, has announced it will be closing at the
end of 2018. The company has been in business for 77 years but has now found itself unable with lesser cost polyester fabrics from China. Copland, located in Burlington, N.C., USA, currently has 200
employees. Click here to read an article posted on the
Burlington Times-News website. Posted November 2, 2018

Registration Opens for Geosynthetics Conference. Registration opened on October 30 for Geosynthetics 2019. The event takes place February 1-13, 2019 in Houston, Texas, USA.
Besides an extensive educational program, the event will feature an exhibition of more than 120 industry suppliers. Geosynthetics 2019 is organized by the Geosynthetics Materials Association, a
division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International. More than 1,300 industry leaders and peers are expected to attend. Click here for registration
information. Posted November 1, 2018

IGS President Chungsik Yoo

New Leadership for Geosynthetics Society. At the 11th International Conference on Geosynthetics, the leadership of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) transitioned for
2018 - 2022. New officers are: President:Dr. Chungsik
Yoo, Professor of
Civil and Environmental Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University in Korea; Vice President: Dr. Nathalie Touze,
Regional Director of IRSTEA in France; Treasurer:Ian Fraser, Technical Director of TCS Geotechnics & Viastructures, Ltd. In United Kingdom; and, Secretary:
Edoardo Zannoni, Business Unit Manager of Maccaferri Africa in South Africa. The 11ICG attracted 1239 participants from 66 countries.
Click here to read the conference's full report. Posted October 30, 2018

US Department of Defense Announces Ballistic Plate
Carrier Contract Awarded.[Correction: The production quantity was incorrectly stated in the orginal announcement. The correct amount has now been
inserted in the copy below.]Central Lake Armor
Express Inc., Central Lake, Mich., USA was awarded a $59,369,617 ceiling, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the production of up to a maximum 1,322,650 Plate
Carrier Generation III – Soft Armor Inserts and data reports. Work will be performed in Central Lake and is expected to be complete by Oct. 24,
2023. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $2,220,578 will be obligated on the first delivery order immediately following contract award and funds
will before the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured as a total small business set-aside via the Federal Business Opportunities website with 13 offers
received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity. Posted October 28, 2018

Lenzing Group to Acquire Remaining 30% of Its Chinese Operation. The fiber industry consolidation in China continues as the Lenzing Group has announced its intention to acquire
the remaining 30% of its Chinese subsidiary Lenzing (Nanjing) Fibers Co., Ltd. from its state-owned joint-venture partner NCFC. Click here to read the company's press release. Posted
October 26, 2018

Announcement of GeoAfrica 2021. During the recent 11th International Conference on Geosynthetics (11ICG) held in Seoul, South Korea, the International Geosynthetics Society
announced the recently formed Egyptian Chapter would be hosting the 4th African Regional Conference on Geosynthetics (GeoAfrica) in 2021. The event will be held in Cairo, Egypt. Past GeoAfrica events
were held in South Africa, Ghana and Morocco. No specific 2021 dates were released. Posted October 26, 2018

Police Adding a Second Set of Ballistic Vests for Stronger Stopping Power. There is an interesting article on the Body Armor News website about the Gainesville, Ga.,
USA police officers now carrying extra "bulletproof" vests which can stop rifle rounds. The tradeoff for getting more protection from high velocity rounds is the weight. These new vests weigh with
hard armor plates about 45 pounds, too much to weight for everyday use; so, they are stored in the vehicle until they are needed. The result for our industry is more vests for law enforcement
protection. Click here to read the article. Posted October 23, 2018

IFAI 2nd Vice Chairman Amy Bircher

2018 Outstanding Volunteer Awards Presented at IFAI Expo.At the annual meeting during IFAI Expo 2018 in Dallas, Texas, the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) presented this year’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards, to people
who generously gave of their time by serving on different boards, task forces and committees, judging competitions and providing education and leadership to others in the industry. This year’s
recipients: Patti Bates, General Manager-Protective, Glen Raven Technical Fabrics; Andy Durham, Senior Geosynthetic Engineer, Owens Corning; Jennifer
Fennell, Sourcing Manager, Polo Custom Products; and, Chad Miller, Director of Contract Manufacturing, American National Manufacturing. Click here to read more about the accomplishments which resulted in their
recognition. Posted October 22, 2018

Pineapple House by Fabric Images, Inc.

Winners of 2018 IFAI International Achievement Awards Announced. The winners of the International Achievement Awards were announced during the IFAI Expo 2018 last week in Dallas,
Texas, USA. In 2018 there were 200 entries which were judged by 41 industry experts. The awards recognize innovation, technical skill and design excellence. There were 7 major categories -- Advanced
Textiles, Awnings and Canopies, Fabric Environments, Fabric Structures, Geosynthetics, Marine and Tent. Click here to see the Best of Category winners. The complete list of winners will be posted on the IFAI website soon. Posted October 22, 2018

Innovation Award to be Given in Seoul Next Month. Twelve companies from 8 different countries will receive a JEC Innovation Award on November 15, 2018 at JEC Asia 2018. The
ceremony will take place during JEC Asia that is taking place November 14-16 in Seoul, South Korea. Last year the JEC Asia attracted 6271 visitors. The JEC Group innovation awards will be
recognized in the following categories: aerospace, automotive, commercial vehicles, e-mobility, marine, railway, sports & leisure, infrastructure & civil engineering, industrial equipment,
sustainability, and additive manufacturing. Posted October 22, 2018

Technical Textiles Producer BFG Relocates Headquarters to Virginia. BFG Industries -- a subsidiary of Porcher Industries -- plans to relocate its US headquarters to the Dan River
Region in southern Virginia from Greensboro, N.C., USA. The move is expected to bring 65 new jobs to the area. BGF is a manufacturer of industrial textiles for a variety of end uses in the aerospace,
marine, military, construction and automotive industries. BFG was formerly known as Burlington Glass Fabrics. It became a subsidiary of Porcher Groupe of Badinieres, France in 1988. Click here to read the news release issued from the Virginia governor's office. Posted
October 22, 2018

IFAI Chairman of the Board Steve Ellington

State-of-the-Association Report Given at IFAI Annual Meeting. Chairman of the Board Steven Ellington led the Annual Meeting of the 105-year-old Industrial
Fabrics Association International (IFAI) on October 16, during the IFAI Expo 2018 in Dallas, Texas, USA. Mr. Ellington, president of Trivantage, LLC, Glen Raven, N.C., USA, gave a brief review of the
association's activities over the past year. A few of the highlights were the biennial member satisfaction survey revealed a 4.11 rating (with 5 being the highest); member retention was at 82.8%;
more than $1 million was directly spent on association programs; and, overall total liabilities and net assets of the organization declined slightly from $8.063 million to $7.951 million. Current
board members David Segal, Edward Segal Inc., Thomaston, Conn., USA, and Gifford Del Grande, AEC Narrow Fabrics, Asheboro, N.C., USA, were re-elected for 3-year
terms as directors on the Board. Honored Life Member status was given to former IFAI President/CEO Mary J. Hennessy in August 2018. Posted October 20, 2018

Last SGIA Expo Underway in Las Vegas. As the IFAI Expo and CAMX shows close today in Dallas, Texas, USA, the last SGIA Expo starts up in Las Vegas, Nev., USA. The annual SGIA
Expo, organized by the Specialty Graphics Imaging Association (SGIA), is ending in 2018 to make room for a new event called PRINT United in 2019 that's being organized by the association and NAPCO
Media. The SGIA Expo 2018 is expected to draw 25,000 visitors and 550 exhibitors. PRINT United's first show is taking place October 23-25, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. Posted October 18,
2018

Multi-Million Dollar Contract Awarded for USAF Carriage Equipment. The website Soldier Systems is reporting the US Air Force has awarded a multi-million-dollar contract
for load-carry carriage equipment for their special operations units. The contract was awarded to High Ground Gear, a division of Ehmke Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia, Penn., USA. Click
here to read the article. Posted October 13,
2018

Traveling European Textile Machinery Road Show Taking Place in Mexico. A 2-day program showcasing
textile machinery to the Mexican textile and carpet industries has been organized by 4 textile European machinery associations -- AMEC of Spain, SYMATEX of Belgium, BTMA of Great Britain and UCMTF of
France. The events will be held in Mexico City on November 20 and Puebla on November 21. The machines cover nearly all the textile industry, from fiber processing to dyeing and finishing, through
weaving, circular knitting used in end uses markets such as apparel, home textiles, carpet manufacturing and technical textiles for the automotive manufacturers. More than 18 machinery manufacturers
will be participating from the organizations. On the Mexican side, the initiative has also received a strong support from industry trade groups CANAINTEX and CITEX. Click here to learn more about the showcase events. Posted October 12, 2018

Outdoor Ventures Corporation Selected by US Army to Produce Next Generation Camouflage Netting System. Today, US Congressman Harold "Hal" Rogers of Kentucky
announced up to 350 new jobs will be created over the next 10 years in McCreary County, Ky. Fibrotex had in May 2018 been one of 3 companies the US Army selected for the netting contract. In
turn, Outdoor Ventures Corporation (OVC), will partner with the company to produce the next generation Ultra Lightweight Camouflage Netting System (ULCANS) in Stearns, Ky. Fibrotex will retrofit a
building next door to OVC and also will build there a new 50,000 sq. ft manufacturing facility. Fibrotex will manufacture the specialized netting that OVC will the make into the final system.
Production is planned to start in the second half of 2019. Click here to read the
press release on the contract announcement. Posted October 11, 2018

SGIA Acquires Graphics Show. The Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) has purchased the printing trade show Graphics of Americas (GOA) from the Florida Graphics Alliance
(FGA). GOA, usually held in Miami Beach, Fla., USA, annually attracts around 10,000 attendees from North, Central and South America. SGIA is the graphics industry trade association, including
technical textiles media, and its annual SGIA Expo is the largest trade show for print technology in North America. Construction of the exhibition hall in Miami Beach has forced the delay of the next
GOA until February 13-15, 2020. Click here to read the SGA press release about the
purchase. Posted October 10, 2018

INDA’s Filtration 2018 International Conference & Exposition
connected professionals from industry sectors in transportation, medical, energy, life science, commercial, nuclear, aerospace and indoor air quality to find new suppliers and buyers at the
27th edition,
October 2-4. 2018, held in Philadelphia, Penn. USA. The exposition was preceded on October 2, with a one-day robust conference program concurrent with a 1.5-day training course on
Filter Media. Filtration 2018 attracted over 1,200 purchasers and suppliers from the filter supply chain to see the
latest technologies from 120-plus exhibitors. Click here to read the official
post-event press release. Posted October 9, 2018.

Photo: The Haartz Corporation website

US Marine Interior Fabric Market Projected to Increase 5-6% in 2018. There's a good article posted on the Boating Industry website looking at the state of the
interior and exterior upholstery boat industry market. One of those interviewed was Bill McDaniel, Marine Market Manager at Glen Raven. Mr. McDaniel projected the industry to finish 2018 at 5-6% growth. In the article, he says
“Twenty percent of what you get on the OEM side drives 80 percent of the aftermarket. There are more and more boats that are an average age of 15 years to 18 years old that are being refurbished.”
Click here to read the article. Posted October 9,
2018

Applied DNA Appoints VP of Strategic Sales. Applied DNA Sciences Inc. has announced the appointment of Wayne Buchen as Vice President of Strategic Sales. Mr.
Buchen most recently served as Senior Vice President of Global Sourcing and Operations for Lacoste in Hong Kong and Senior Vice President of Global Sourcing in New York. Mr. Buchen, together with
MeiLin Wan, vice president of Textile Sales, will lead Applied DNA's sales efforts in its textile vertical. The company is a provider of molecular technologies that enable supply chain security, anti-counterfeiting and anti-theft technology, product genotyping and DNA mass production for diagnostics
and therapeutics. It is headquartered in Brook, N.Y., USA. Click here to read the company's press release
on the appointment. Posted October 9, 2018

Textile Innovation Network President Featured. The launch in September of the Rhode Island Textile Innovation Network (RITIN) is creating public awareness of the
advanced textile industry. RITIN's president Michael Woody, CEO of Trans-Tex, Cranston, Rhode Island, USA, and RITIN's president, was featured on a local Rhode Island
business news show. looking at the new technology contributions of textiles. It's a nice interview. Click here to watch it. Posted October 9,
2018

Eric Pierrejean

JEC Names New CEO. Eric Pierrejean has been appointed Chief Executive Officer
of the JEC Group, succeeding Frédérique Mutel. He will be in charge of the further development of the company after two decades of growth under Mrs. Mutel's leadership. Mr.
Pierrejean joined the JEC Group in January 2018. Before joining the company, he was Division General Manager at Comexposium from 2011 to 2017. Prior to this, he spent much of his career in sales and
marketing positions, spending more than 15 years in the automotive sector (BMW Group, Land Rover) as well as in the sports goods industry (Nike). JEC Group is based in Paris, France and is the owner
of the JEC composite shows and trade publication. Posted October 9, 2018

Adeline Larroque

New Show Director for JEC World. The world's largest composite industry show has a new show director. JEC Group has announced Adeline Larroque
has joined the company as the Show Director for JEC World and EMEA Events. She comes to JEC with more than 15 years of global experience, previously working for Reed Exhibitions France and China
managing numerous exhibitions in the aerospace, material, security, maritime, logistics, construction and medical industries. She has also worked for Qatar Tourism Authority as Head of Exhibition.
Most recently, MS. Larroque worked for the Events division of the Daily Mail Group, supervising the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference as Event Director. Posted October
9, 2018

New West Coast Distribution Center Opened by Coated Fabrics Manufacturer. Aurora Specialty Textiles
Group, Inc., (Aurora) has opened a new regional Fulfillment Center in Santa Fe Springs, Calif. The new regional warehouse and Fulfillment Center enables the company to satisfy same day and next day
delivery for the company’s West Coast customers. Aurora, based in Yorkville, Ill., USA, is a manufacturer of coated, dyed and finished woven and nonwoven fabrics used in digital printing, specialty
home products and technical textiles applications. Posted October 6, 2018

Last Days for the US Navy Peacoats. On October 1, 2018, the US Navy made the purchase of its dark blue woolen peacoat officially optional for sailors. The iconic peacoat dates
back to the British navy of the 1730s, later adapted by the US Navy prior to the Civil War. As reported in a June 2017 BeaverLake6 Report post, the Navy peacoat is being replace by
a synthetic fabric cold weather parka in a previously announced cost-cutting move. The full phase-out of the coat will be completed by 2021. Eliminating the peacoat will have a devastating impact on
the Boston-region woolen industry as the last peacoat contract was in 2015 for about $48 million. Click here to go to a save-the-peacoat
website to express your opposition to the coat's elimination. Industry consultant David Trumbull has on his Textiles and Trade website a good article about the issue.
Click here to read his post.
Posted October 5, 2018

US Exports in August Increase for Specialty and Industrial Fabrics Group. The US Department of Commerce has released the August export figures for
the Specialty and Industrial Fabrics group. There does not appear to be any trade consequences yet from the growing US-China trade war as exports to China continue to surge in double digit
growth. Click here to see the entire report released by the
Department of Commerce.

Year Ending

8/2017

Year Ending

8/2018

% Change

Mexico

2,066,661

2,177080

+5.34

Canada

578,235

595,945

+3.06

China

195,593

219,967

+12.46

Hong Kong

122,167

123,064

+0.73

United Kingdom

99,782

101,980

+2.20

World

4,155,146

4,359,529

+4.92

(Data in thousand dollars)

Posted October 5, 2018

Smart Textiles Symposium Attracts 170 Delegates in Austria. The 7th Smart Textiles Symposium 2018 was held in Dornbirn, Austria, during the 57th Dornbirn-GFC (Global Fiber
Congress). The symposium attracted 170 delegates and 24 lectures. Overall, more than 700 delegates participated in the Global Fiber Conference. The focus of Smart Textiles Symposium 2018 was the
increased tendency towards a more interdisciplinary collaboration in the field of smart textiles. Speakers included a keynote address by James Holbery, product research manager at
Microsoft. He gave insight on the company's recent activities in printed textile and flexible electronics. Click here for a comprehensive report on the event provided to BeaverLake6 Report by
Dr. Isa Hofmann. Posted October 2, 2018

US Air Force Makes New Camouflage Uniform Available for All. The new OCP pattern uniform is now available for all in the US Air Force. The uniform has already been available in
the past few months for about 100,000 Air Force personnel serving in combat situations. The OCP pattern is a joint combat uniform worn by both the Air Force and the Army. Respective services will be
identified on the uniforms by patches and name tags. To avoid financial hardship for those who purchase addition uniforms, the transition to the new uniforms will be over 3 years, with a requirement
for all in the Air Force to be wearing it by April 2021. Click here to read an
article about the transition. Posted October 2, 2018

Techtextil North America Registration Opens.
Registration for Techtextil North America 2019, being held February 26-28, 2019 in Raleigh, N.C., USA has officially
opened. For the first time, the event will offer a la carte pricing, giving visitors the flexibility to pick and choose the sessions most relevant to them, as well as a “Full Experience” option, which includes three-day exhibit hall access, entry into all Symposium sessions, as well as shuttle transportation and entry into
the Reception & Tours at North Carolina State University. Click here to go to the special Techtextil North America pages within BeaverLake6 Report and read the entire official press release from the show's management.
Posted October 1, 2018

Former location of Glawe Awning and Tent

Awning and Tent Company Featured for Its 141 Years in Business There is a nice article on the Springfield News-Sun website that features Glawe Awnings and Tents of
Fairborn, Oh., USA. The company is a regional fabricator and installer of commercial display tents as well as awnings and other custom products. It's history dates back to 1877. The website also has
a video featuring CEO Vern Schaefer, recalling the history of the company and the technology advances today that keeps it competitive. Service to bettering the industry itself
is in the family DA. Mr. Schaefer, his daughter Katherine Schaefer and his son-in-law Thomas Fridley have all held the top volunteer leadership position in the
Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI). Click here to read the article and view the narrative video. Posted September 28, 2018

Call for Materials from Exhibitors at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. If you are exhibiting at the upcoming Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in November in Denver, Colo., USA, make
sure you send samples and material swatches of what you are displaying to be included in the show's Trend & Design Center. The Trend & Design Center serves as a resource location where
designers first come to source and shop the component materials. Click here to contact Kathy
Swantko at the FabricLink Network for more information. Posted September 28, 2018

Marine Corps Awards $62.6 Million Contract for Next Generation Body Armor Plate Carriers.Vertical Protective Apparel LLC, Shrewsbury, N.J., USA, has been awarded a ceiling $62,612,464 five-year, firm-fixed-price,contract for
the purchase of up to 225,886 Plate Carrier Generation IIIs and data reports. Work will be performed in Shrewsbury, N.J., and is expected to be completed by September 2023. The PC Gen III body armor
system features a 25% weight reduction and has additional modularity to make it application for different needs. Additionally, it will be available in 8 sizes, including 3 smaller sizes than the
current vest, to make it a more customized fit. Interestingly, the new vest material is using a laser cut material that only absorbs 7% of water compared to 70% of the previous legacy system.
Clickhereto read more. Posted September
28, 2018

US Textiles Industry Gets a Seat at the Trade Negotiations Table. US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to appoint Don Bockoven,
Vice Chairman of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations at the Office of U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Mr. Bockoven is
the President & CEO of Leigh Fibers and ICE Recycling. The appointment is a 4-year term. The ACTPN's role is to advise the U.S, Trade Representative in matters involving negotiations on
treaties and trade deals. Click here to read a press release by NCTO on the pending appointment. Posted September 28, 2018

$30 Million Military Cot Contract
Awarded.North American
Manufacturing, Scranton, Penn., USA, has been awarded a maximum $30,000,000 contract for military folding cot by the US Defense Logistics Agency. This was a competitive acquisition with one response
received. This is a two-year base contract with three one-year option periods. Location of performance is Pennsylvania, with a Sept. 25, 2020, performance completion date. Using customers are Army,
Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and other federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2018 through 2020 defense working capital funds.Posted September 26,
2018

VDMA Textile Machinery c/o Walter Reiners Foundation Honours Young
Engineers.Peter D. Dornier, member of the Executive Board of the VDMA Textile Machinery
Federation and Chairman of the Walter Reiners Foundation for the Promotion of Young Engineers, has honoured 5 young talents. A total of 17,500 Euros was awarded as prize money. Numerous
entrepreneurs and managers from the German textile machinery industry took part in the award ceremony at the Digital Capability Center (DCC) in Aachen, Germany. Clickhereto read more about the winners and their work. Posted September 25, 2018

"Floating" Backpacks Being Evaluated by US Military. The website Military Times has an interesting article about a product made by start-up US manufacturer Lightning
Packs. The company has developed a backpack using what they call Suspended Load Technology. The pack uses a double-frame and pulley system that "floats" the pack up and down on a plastic rail,
reducing the impact of the load on the body by a reported 80-90%. According to the Military Times website, the US military is evaluating the potential of the backpacks. Click here to read the
read. Posted September 24, 2018

NASA's New Home and City Website

Interactive Website Launched to Showcase NASA-Influenced Technologies. The National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) has launched a website called Home and
City that showcases 130 spinoff technologies now found in everyday life. Products include a number of examples of technical textile materials used in firefighter protective gear, membrane
structures, ballistic vests, and medical products, including a unique pressure garment that is now used to save thousands of women around the world from post-birth bleeding. The website is a good
basic introduction to inspire new workers and students on the impact of our industry. Click here to go to the interactive site. Posted September 21, 2018

Hurricane Forces Rescheduling of Textile Research Conference. The 2018 Southern Textile Research Conference, originally scheduled for September 16-18 in Myrtle Beach, N.C.,
USA, has been rescheduled for October 7-9 at the same Hilton Myrtle Beach hotel. The event had to be postponed because of Hurricane Florence. The conference theme is "Advances in Functional Finishes
and Innovative Technologies." Click here for more information. Posted September 21, 2018

Federal Prison Industries Awarded $110 Million Tactical Vest
Contract. Federal Prison Industries Inc., Washington,
D.C., USA, (also known as UNICOR) was awarded a $110,231,607 firm-fixed-price contract for interceptor body armor and outer tactical vests. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations
and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 29, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
Posted September 21, 2018

US Army Contract Awarded from Flame-Resistant
Trousers.Bethel Industries, Inc., Jersey City, N.J., USA has been awarded a maximum $65,320,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for flame resistant trousers for the Army Combat Uniform. This was a
competitive acquisition with 12 responses received. This is an 18-month base contract with one one-year option period. Maximum dollar amount is for the life of the contract, including the option.
Location of performance is New Jersey, with a March 18, 2021, estimated performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2018 through 2021 defense working
capital funds.Posted September 21, 2018

Russian Military Claims Textile Materials Developed to Make Helmets Invisible. The website Innovations in Textiles has posted an interesting article that reports "A
new textile material has been recently designed by the Russian military and industrial corporation Rostec to mask soldiers and military equipment...the new material has chameleon like properties and
can adapt to the colour of the environment." The investment cost of the material is estimated to be $100-150 million. Click here to read the
article. Posted September 21, 2018

Final Mars Spacecraft Parachute Tests Completed. On September 12, 2018, the National Aeronautics Space Agency (NASA) has completed the final of 8 tests of the parachutes
being used for the Orion Mars spacecraft. Early indications are the testing of all parachutes were successful. The system has 11 parachutes configured in 4 sets, uses a total of 36,000 square feet of
parachute canopy material and has 30 miles of Kevlar lines. Parachutes are deployed in sequence from 300 miles-per-hour to 20 mph. The tests were done using a mock Orion spacecraft dropped from 6.5
miles above the surface. Click here to read a report posted on
the Space website. Posted September 15, 2018

Overview of Trelleborg's Recent Expansions. There is a nice concise article posted on the Rubber News website that details the recent acquisitions of Swedish
manufacturer Trelleborg Engineered Coated Fabrics. The most recent acquisitions have been Laminating Coating Technologies Inc. (Lamcotec) and Dartex Holdings Ltd. Lamcotex makes polyurethane
coated and laminated fabrics used in the aerospace industry and Dartex makes coated fabrics for the health care and medical markets. Click here to read the article.
Posted September 15, 2018

Photo: Kolon Industries

Kolon Increasing Aramid Fiber Production by 50%. Korea-based Kolon Industries has announced its intention to increase production of the Aramid fiber made under its Heracron
brand by 50%. By the 1st quarter of 2020, when the expansion is completed, the annual capacity of the Gumi aramid manufacturing plant will increase from the current 5,000 tons to 7,500 tons. The
demand is due to 1) increased demand from global manufacturers in markets such as optical fibers and tire cords, and 2) the company's aim to enter the North American market. The production increase
represents an investment of about $18 million. Click here to read more on the Business Korea
website. Posted September 15, 2018

US Tent Maker Acquires Additional Space for Production Facility. Celina Tent, Inc. has acquired new production space in St. Marys, Oh., USA. The new space is in a former
large retail store building, allowing more than 80,000 square feet will be used for sheltering assembly, including all processes from raw material cutting through inspection and packaging. Celina
supplies large shelters for agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the US Department of Defense. Celina is a family-owned business, headquartered in Celina, Oh., USA.
Click here to read the entire press
release. Posted September 13, 2018

US Army Awards Contract for Parachute System. Airborne Systems North
America, Santa Ana, Calif., USA, was awarded a $9,575,711 firm-fixed-price contract for the purchase of the Advanced Tactical Parachute System. Bids were solicited via the internet with one
received. Work will be performed in Santa Ana, Calif., with an estimated completion date of November 1, 2019. Fiscal 2018 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $9,575,711 were obligated at
the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. USA, is the contracting activity. Posted September 13, 2018

Point Blank Awarded Helicopter Armor Development Contract. Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation has awarded The Protective Group, a division of Point Blank Enterprises, a contract
to provide a high performance, light-weight crew protection kit for the new CH-53 US Marine Corps King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter. The protection kit consists of individual ballistic panels
installed beneath the cabin and ramp floor and within the cabin side frames. Click here to read more.
Posted September 12, 2018

Media Partners

Final Analysis of IFAI Expo 2018 and CAMX18

IFAI President S. Schiffman

IFAI Expo 2018 was the first show under IFAI's new CEO/President Steve Schiffman. In a quick conversation on the first day, Mr. Schiffman thought event attendance was on target with the
expectation of a 500 increase over the 4500 total participants (counting both exhibitors and visitors) they had in 2017 in New Orleans. Similarly, a conversation with one of the managers of ACMA, a
partner in CAMX, said their pre-registration had already topped the 6500 they had last year in Orlando. (Keep in mind, though, the 2017 CAMX show had to be rescheduled from September to December
because of Hurricane Irma.) Click here to read more about
the shows. Posted October 19, 2018

NAFTA Replacement Agreement Negotiated. On October 1, President Donald Trump announced the US, Mexico and Canada had reached an agreement whichreplaces the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that went into effect in 1994. The new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) contains provisions and language that has an impact on the technical
textiles industry; the most important are 1) a special section covering textiles and apparel and 2) rules of origin that will require 75% of automotive content (under NAFTA 62.5%) be made in North
America. Mexico and Canada are the two largest importers of US made technical textiles and the automotive industry is the largest intended end market of these technical textiles. Click here to go to the United States Trade Representative's website and read the
"Textiles and Apparel Goods" chapter. Posted October 3, 2018

Fiber Publication Acquired. INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, today announced the
acquisition of two leading industry publications: International Filtration News and International Fiber News. The association purchased the publications from
International Media Group, Inc., based in Tempe, Az., USA. The purchase price and terms were not disclosed. The publications each have circulations of 8,000-plus domestic and international readers
and have served their readers for over three decades. Both are published six times a year in print and digital formats. The acquisitions will expand INDA’s reach and
relevance in the key markets the print and digital publications serve with a particular emphasis on the filtration and separation segment as INDA launches its new FiltXpo event to be held in Chicago
every 18 months starting February 26-28, 2020. Click here to read the INDA press
release on the purchase. Posted October 2, 2018

State of the Chinese Technical Textiles Markets in 2017

Are you looking for a quick understanding of the China technical textiles industry? Through our special relationship with China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association (CNITA) and their
China Textile publication, BeaverLake6 Report is pleased to post the English-translation of the recently issued "Status Quo of China's Nonwovens and Industrial Textiles Industry,
2017." The report covers the different levels of the industry, geographic export demographics, and forecast the needs in the major end market applications. Click here to read the report in our China Textile website section. Posted June 18, 2018

Report Published on the US Technical Textiles Industry

I am pleased to announce the second part of my report 2018 State of the U.S.Technical Textiles Industry has been published by Textile
World magazine.

This first part features a general industry overview, plus an evaluation of the status and impact of US trade positions.

The second part, featured in the April/May issue will cover major end markets for technical textiles such as automotive and military.